Illinois ranks 44 th in this area overall, and its tax rank is especially low at 46. According to the Tax Foundation, Illinois’s state and local tax burden is 12.9% of its share of national output.

With Durbin stepping down, top Democrats compete for his seat — and his mantle as an advocate for downstate Illinois.

Still, despite these headwinds, Illinois is better positioned to overcome these challenges and withstand the forces that trigger recessions than at any point in recent history. That’s something ...

Even in some economic areas in which it has improved, such as the rainy day fund to keep the state operating during a downturn, which is up 700% since the Great Recession, Illinois still lags most ...

No state is immune from the negative effects of an economic downturn, but Illinois is more prepared today than it was for the Great Recession of 2007-2009 or the COVID-19 recession of 2020 ...

New homes under construction on May 14, 2025, in Hampshire. Illinois has a shortage of about 142,000 housing units and must build 227,000 in the next five years to keep pace with demand, a report ...

Reducing corruption will improve local economies and cultivate more trust between voters and elected officials.

The current Illinois economic story includes higher unemployment, store closings, layoffs and inflation. The state’s jobless rate rose to 5% in June.

Overall, the study ranked Illinois 40th for its state economy but dead last in the economic health category. “Fifty-one out of 50 states and Washington, D.C.,” said Lugo.

Fortunately for Illinois, it’s a misleading one. Illinois is not without challenges. But unlike many other states, we do have a cohesive economic development strategy in place.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed a bill calling for the end of coal as a power source and mandating only clean energy production by 2050.